|
Open skies from Bahrain to Singapore and back
Singapore and Bahrain have signed an open skies agreement
removing all restrictions on passenger and cargo flights by airlines of both
countries.
Under the agreement, airlines of both countries are free
to fly on any route between and beyond Bahrain and Singapore, with no limits
on frequency of flights.
Singapore’s transport minister, Yeo Cheow Tong, said:
“As the agreement lifts all restrictions on flights between Singapore and
Bahrain, via and beyond to any third country, Gulf Air will have the
flexibility to expand its network in Asia and Australia, using Singapore as
a gateway.”
Currently, Gulf Air operates 14 weekly passenger flights
between Singapore and Bahrain. Between 2000 and 2004, passenger traffic
between Singapore and Bahrain has grown an average of 10 percent every year.
(TTG Asia)
Bangkok theme park to get facelift
Bangkok’s Dreamworld amusement park will undergo a
renovation program this year to bring the attraction back to its former
glory.
Director marketing, Chaivat Tunghataisug, said owning
company, Amusement Creation, would invest more than 40 million baht
(US$100,000) to add a new car park and refresh the landscaping, atmosphere
and colors of the attraction.
“As a result, the entry fee for locals will be raised
from 295 baht to 330 baht. However fees for tour operator groups will remain
the same,” he said.
The park attracted more than two million visitors last
year. “Overseas tourists comprise 30 per cent of our visitors,” Chaivat
said. A renovation program under consideration for next year would add more
rides and new shows. (TNA)
Trees to provide tsunami
breaker along Andaman coast
Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the
Environment are preparing to survey the Andaman coastline with a view to
planting trees to act as a barrier against future tsunamis, Minister Yongyut
Tiyapirat revealed.
Speaking on Thailand’s southern resort island of
Phuket, which sustained damage in the tsunami, Yongyut spoke of the urgent
need to create tsunami defenses, noting that it was impossible to tell what
would occur in the future.
However, what was noticeable, he said, was that buildings
located behind lines of trees, particularly pine trees, had sustained far
less damage on December 26 than buildings that were exposed.
Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal
Resources are now surveying the country’s Andaman coastline and procuring
trees which can be planted as a natural tsunami defense although Yongyut
also stressed the need to ensure that the trees did not unduly interfere
with the existing natural surroundings.
Survey work to date indicates that the tsunami caused
around 70 million baht worth of damage to sea grasses, 10 million baht
damage to mangrove forests and 900 baht million to coral reefs. It is
expected that coral could take 5-7 years to fully revive. (TNA)
Arrivals up at Don Muang airport
March international visitor arrivals at Bangkok’s Don
Muang International Airport showed a growth of 16 per cent year-on-year, to
677,605, fuelling hopes that the nation’s tourism industry is on the mend.
After a negative growth of –8 percent during the first
two months, with January bottoming out at –19 percent, the warming trend
has brought first quarter results up by one percent over last year.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executive director
advertising and public relations, Prakit Piriyakiet, said the increase was
partly the result of hard work by the TAT to publicize the extent of the
tsunami-affected destinations’ recovery.
“European markets have responded quickly to our
campaigns. The Asian markets are slower to recover but we expect them to
return by August,” he said. (TTG Asia)
Fresh new THAI
Thai Airways International (THAI) unveiled its new
corporate identity, its first in 30 years.
After two years and US$2.5 million on the re-branding
exercise with consultant Interbrand, the airline hopes its three new brand
values – high trust, world class and Thai touch – will position it as
leader in the aviation industry.
THAI president, Kanok Abhiradee, said, “In an era of
constant changes and intense competition, customer satisfaction alone is not
enough; we have to delight customers”.
Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Wisanu Kruengam,
presided over the launch, where VIPs and local and international media were
brought to THAI’s twin hanger and the airline’s new Airbus 340-500,
sporting the new livery, was rolled in.
The livery was painted in mica and the cabin d้cor
is contemporary Thai, with upgraded seats in a range of vibrant colors.
Menus, amenities, staff uniform, and in-flight entertainment are all new.
Kanok stressed the re-branding covered all areas – call
centers, airport lounges, and training staff to embrace the corporate
philosophy. (TNA)
AirAsia appoints senior exec Jean Chang
AirAisa has announced the appointment of Jean Chang the
new executive vice president - Greater China & North Asia.
As part of the new regional setup based in Kuala Lumpur,
Chang will be responsible for AirAsia’s operations in China and in North
Asia. Chang was previously with China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC),
the holding company of Air China and Dragonair. (TTG Asia)
Phi Phi businesses forge ahead with post-tsunami repairs
Authorities in Thailand’s southern resort province of
Krabi are allegedly dragging their feet when it comes to the restoration of
the tourist island of Koh Phi Phi following the December tsunami, but that
has not stopped several businesses from forging ahead and carrying out
essential reconstruction work.
While official plans for the rehabilitation of Koh Phi
Phi remain unclear, three months after the massive waves caused extensive
damage, tourists are beginning to trickle back to the island, which was
closed for some time in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami.
Foreigners are coming in increasing numbers to Ton Sai
Bay, a residential area known for its souvenir and food stalls although it
is noticeable that the majority of them are volunteers helping with the
Andaman relief effort.
According to Boonma Saelim, the owner of a local tour
company, most of the restoration and clearance work is being carried out by
foreigners, while the government has done relatively little.
Many local businesses, he says, have simply decided to go
ahead with restoration work without waiting for the issuance of official
planning regulations.
Deputy Provincial Governor Chai Phanichapornphan is much
more optimistic about the progress being made on the island, noting that all
the major tsunami debris has been cleared.
And he admits that it is difficult to prevent locals from
forging ahead with restoration work before regulations are issued, while
warning that once the new regulations are in force, business owners could
run into difficulties. (TNA)
One e-ticket for SIA, United flights
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched an interline
e-ticketing service with United Airlines, so passengers need only one
e-ticket for an entire journey on both carriers.
The e-ticket service, which started this month, is
available at all SIA sales offices and for online bookings. It will also be
available at travel agencies from May.
SIA will gradually introduce similar programs with its
other partner carriers and aims to offer a global e-ticketing service to its
passengers by the third quarter of 2005. (TTG Asia)
Amari Watergate Hotel congratulates new Thammasart University Council President
Dr.
Sumet Tantivechakul (3rd left) recently received a flower basket from
Pierre-Andre Pelletier, general manager of Amari Watergate Hotel, to
congratulate him on his appointment as president of Thammasart
University’s Council. Also attending the ceremony in the Amari Watergate
Hotel’s Banglumpoo Room were, from left; Dr. Sukhum Rasmidatta, Assoc.
Prof. Prapanpong Vejjajiva, Air Chief Marshal Somboon Rahongse, Khunying
Vimol Kullavanich, Gen. Pichit Kullavanich, privy councilor, and Nichaya
Chaivisuth, director of public relations of the hotel
Nok Air affirms
no fuel surcharge will be levied
One of Thailand’s low-cost airlines, Nok Air, has
announced that it would not levy a fuel surcharge despite soaring oil
prices, noting that despite high fuel costs it was continuing to make
healthy profits.
“For as long as Nok Air continues to make profits, we
will not impose a fuel surcharge on our passengers,” said the airline’s
chief executive, Phathi Sarasin. “At present we have profits of around 10
percent, and we can bear the burden of higher costs.”
Fuel costs now account for 30 percent of the airline’s
total operating costs, but the popularity of the budget airline is helping
keep it in the black.
However, Phathi indicated that the airline might be
forced to consider a fuel surcharge if other airlines imposed one.
The airline’s chief executive also announced a plan to
boost its fleet by another 2-4 aircraft in order to open up new domestic and
international routes. This year it hopes that passenger numbers (load
factor) will be as high 80 percent, with a high load factor recorded over
the past few months despite the country’s southern insurgency. (TNA)
|
|
|
|
|
